Tag: jesus

The Lord’s Prayer and the Last Supper are Inextricably Linked

Dr Jito Vanualailai

The Last Supper is described in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and briefly referenced in John’s Gospel. The key passages are as follows:

1. Matthew 26:17-30

  • Preparation for the Passover meal.
  • Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper: breaking the bread and offering the cup, symbolizing His body and blood.

2. Mark 14:12-26

  • Similar account as Matthew, including instructions to the disciples for preparing the Passover and the institution of the Eucharist.

3. Luke 22:7-23

  • Jesus expresses His desire to share this meal before His suffering.
  • The words of institution highlight the new covenant in His blood.

4. John 13:1-17

  • Instead of detailing the meal itself, John focuses on Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, a demonstration of humility and service.

5. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

  • Paul provides a concise account of the Last Supper, emphasizing its theological significance as a proclamation of the Lord’s death until He comes.

These passages collectively describe the Last Supper’s events and theological meaning, making it central to Christian liturgy and theology.

It is Mark 14:12-36 that provides the mathematical link with the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11:2-4. To see this, we note that the Gospel of Mark is the 41st of the Bible. Then the identifiers of the verses in Mark 14:12-36 are 67 to 81, respectively. Hence, the sum of the identifiers is 67+68+69+…+81 = 1110.

The number 1110 is the 923rd composite number. The divisors of 923 are in the set {1, 13, 71, 923}. The sum of the divisors is 1008 = 168 x 6. But 168 is precisely the identifier of Luke 11:2-4, the Lord’s Prayer.

Conclusion. The Lord’s Prayer and the Last Supper are inextricably linked mathematically through the number 168, itself the identifier for the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke.

How are they inextricably linked?

The answer to this questions came from the biblical scholar and theologian Ernest Findlay Scott (1868 – 1964), who was “Professor Emeritus of Biblical Theology” of the Union Theological Seminary. In his 1951 book “The Lord’s Prayer: Its Character, Purpose and Interpretation”, he wrote:

Two things in our religion have come to us directly from Jesus himself – the Lord’s Supper and the Lord’s Prayer. He bequeathed to them these two ordinances which they were to preserve just as they had come from his hands – the Supper which tells us what he did for us, and the Prayer which sums up what he taught us. These two acts of worship have a place by themselves in our religion, and are like the two poles of which it turns. A Christian service would be complete if it consisted only of an observance of the Supper and a repetition of the Lord’s Prayer. Between them they represent everything that we believe, and they are necessary to each other.  We cannot rightly say the Prayer without remembering the Cross, and we cannot celebrate the Supper unless we mean to follow the way of Jesus in our daily lives. In all times, men have been conscious that in these two gifts Jesus gave us everything, and the chief aim of Christian thought has been to discover the full significance of the Lord’s Supper and the Lord’s Prayer.

Prayer Times Acceptable to God

Dr Jito Vanualailai

In Psalm 69, we read of a soul-searching prayer credited to King David. Verses 10 to 14 are provided below (KJV):

10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. 11 I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them. 12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards. 13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. 14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

In this prayer, verse 13 is revealing. The New International Version gives the following:

13 But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.

The Benson Commentary provides the following interpretation of verse 13:

Psalm 69:13. But my prayer is unto thee — While they scoff, I will pray, and not be driven from thee, nor from prayer and other duties, by all their reproaches, or any other discouragements. In an acceptable time — Hebrew, עת רצון, gneet ratzon, in a time of grace, of good will, or good pleasure. These words may be joined, either, 1st, With the following, by way of limitation, thus: Hear me in thy accepted time, that is, I do not limit thee to any time; but when thou seest it will be best, hear and help me. Or rather, with the foregoing, as an argument to enforce his prayer: as if he had said, I pray in a time of grace, or acceptance; I seek thee when thou mayest be found, (see Psalm 32:6; Isaiah 55:6,) in a good day, as they said, 1 Samuel 25:8, in the day of grace and mercy: or, in a time of great trouble, which is the proper season for prayer, Psalm 50:15; and while I have thee engaged to me by promises, which thy honour and truth oblige thee to perform. I come not too late, and therefore do thou hear me. In the truth of thy salvation — That is, for, or according to, thy saving truth, or faithfulness; whereby thou hast promised to deliver those who trust in thee.

King David, filled with humility, left it to God to decide when God would listen to him. The verse is telling us that there is a time of prayer that is acceptable or favorable to God!

Indeed, we can deduce the same from 2 Corinthians 6:2. which reads:

2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 

This verse is part of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, specifically in a section (2 Corinthians 5:20–6:10) where Paul passionately appeals to the Corinthians to be reconciled to God. Paul emphasizes the urgency of responding to God’s grace and reminds them of their responsibility as recipients of God’s salvation.

Purpose: Paul is urging the Corinthians to recognize that the gospel they have received is not something to be taken lightly or postponed. The “day of salvation” is now, and they must live as those reconciled to God.

Old Testament Reference: Paul quotes from Isaiah 49:8, where God speaks of a future time when He will deliver and restore His people. Paul reinterprets this prophecy, declaring that the time of fulfillment has arrived in Christ.

Isaiah 49:8 reads:

8 Thus says the Lord: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;

This verse is part of the second Servant Song in Isaiah (Isaiah 49:1–13), a passage that describes the mission of God’s Servant, who is widely interpreted as the Messiah. This Servant is called by God to bring salvation not only to Israel but also to the Gentiles, extending God’s covenant and restoring His creation.

Now, here is the most astonishing result. When we calculate the identifiers of Isaiah 49:8 and 2 Corinthians 6:2, we get:

1. Isaiah 49:8

  • Book Number: Isaiah is the 23rd book of the Bible.
  • Chapter Number: 49
  • Verse Number: 8

Identifier=23+49+8=80

2. 2 Corinthians 6:2

  • Book Number: 2 Corinthians is the 47th book of the Bible.
  • Chapter Number: 6
  • Verse Number: 2

Identifier=47+6+2=55

Total Sum of Identifiers

Thus, the total sum of the identifiers is 80+55=135.

Psalm 69:13 serves as a precursor to the themes developed in Isaiah 49:8 and 2 Corinthians 6:2. It introduces the concept of an “acceptable time” when God’s mercy and salvation are particularly accessible. Isaiah expands this theme, tying it to God’s covenant promises, and Paul ultimately declares its fulfillment in Christ, urging believers to respond without delay. Together, these verses underscore the importance of recognizing and acting upon God’s appointed times of grace and favor.

There is no contradiction between the early Christian and ancient Jewish understanding of recognizing God’s appointed times and Paul’s urging to pray continually in 1 Thessalonians 5:17—“Pray without ceasing”— because praying “without ceasing” necessarily include prescribed times of prayer. In other words, these ideas complement each other beautifully, illustrating different dimensions of spiritual awareness and discipline.

Conclusion: The eight prescribed times to pray the Lord’s Prayer, namely, {10.35am,10.53am,1.35pm,1.53pm,3.15pm, 3.51pm, 5.13pm, 5.31pm}, are times acceptable to our Father in heaven to listen to our prayers.

The Lord’s Prayer is a Precise Summary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Mathematical Proof

Dr Jito Vanualailai

Biblical scholars and theologians have long known that the Lord’s Prayer was a precise summary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. See some references in the Scholarly Comments section of this website.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ refers to the good news of God’s redemptive plan for humanity, accomplished through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. It is the proclamation of salvation and eternal life available to all who believe in Him. It can be summarized under the following four categories of messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, as they comprehensively encapsulate the major themes and events central to His mission. Here’s how each category relates to the core message of the Gospel:

  1. Prophecies About Jesus’ Birth:
    • These prophecies highlight the miraculous and divine origins of Jesus, emphasizing His identity as the promised Messiah. His birth fulfills God’s promises to bring salvation to humanity, establishing the foundation of the Gospel.
  2. Prophecies About Jesus’ Life and Ministry:
    • Jesus’ teachings, miracles, and the way He lived demonstrate the nature of God, His love, and His kingdom. His life provides the model for righteous living and the manifestation of divine power and compassion.
  3. Prophecies About Jesus’ Death:
    • The death of Jesus is the climax of the Gospel, showing the ultimate sacrifice for humanity’s sins. This act of atonement is central to Christian belief, as it reconciles humans with God and provides a way for salvation.
  4. Prophecies About Jesus’ Resurrection:
    • The resurrection is the triumphant victory over sin and death, proving Jesus’ divinity and ensuring eternal life for believers. It is the cornerstone of Christian hope and the promise of a future resurrection for all who follow Him.

These categories collectively narrate the Gospel story—from the anticipation of the Messiah, His life on earth, the sacrificial death, and His victorious resurrection. They align with the essential message of the Gospel as expressed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4:

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Thus, the Gospel can be meaningfully summarized under these four categories.

Mathematically, it is sufficient to show that the total sum of the identifiers of any set of pertinent messianic prophecies in the Old Testament about Jesus Christ under the four categories points to the Lord’s Prayer, whose identifier is 168 in the Gospel of Luke and 285 in the Gospel of Matthew.

Accordingly, let us identify the pertinent verses and their identifiers:

1. Prophecies About Jesus’ Birth

  • Born of a Virgin: Isaiah 7:14 – “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Identifier=22.
  • Born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.” Identifier=40.
  • Descendant of Abraham: Genesis 22:18 – “Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.” Identifier=41.
  • From the Line of David: Jeremiah 23:5 – “I will raise up for David a righteous Branch.” Identifier=52.
  • Herod’s Slaughter of Innocents Foretold: Jeremiah 31:15 – “A voice is heard in Ramah… Rachel weeping for her children.” Identifier=70.
  • Called Out of Egypt: Hosea 11:1 – “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Identifier=40.

Sum of all identifiers: 22+40+41+52+70+40=265.

2. Prophecies About Jesus’ Life and Ministry

  • Proceeded by a Messenger (John the Baptist): Isaiah 40:3 – “A voice of one calling in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the LORD.’” Identifier=66.
  • A Light to the Gentiles: Isaiah 9:2 – “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” Identifier=34
  • He Will Teach in Parables: Psalm 78:2 – “I will open my mouth with a parable.” Identifier=99.
  • Perform Miracles: Isaiah 35:5 – “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.” Identifier=63.
  • Zeal for God’s House: Psalm 69:9 – “Zeal for your house consumes me.” Identifier=97.
  • The King Comes on a Donkey: Zechariah 9:9 – “See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey.” Identifier=56.

Sum of all the identifiers: 66+34+99+63+97+56=415.

3. Prophecies About Jesus’ Death

  • Betrayed for Thirty Pieces of Silver: Zechariah 11:12 – “So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.” Identifier=61.
  • Silent Before His Accusers: Isaiah 53:7 – “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.” Identifier=83.
  • Pierced Hands and Feet: Psalm 22:16 – “They pierce my hands and my feet.” Identifier=57.
  • Crucified with Criminals: Isaiah 53:12 – “He was numbered with the transgressors.” Identifier=88.
  • Mocked and Insulted: Psalm 22:7 – “All who see me mock me.” Identifier=48.
  • Given Vinegar to Drink: Psalm 69:21 – “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.” Identifier=109.
  • His Side Pierced: Zechariah 12:10 – “They will look on me, the one they have pierced.” Identifier=60.
  • Cast Lots for His Clothing: Psalm 22:18 – “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” Identifier=59.

Sum of all identifiers: 61+83+57+88+48+109+60+59=565.

4. Prophecies About Jesus’ Resurrection

  • Raised on the Third Day: Hosea 6:2 – “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us.” Identifier=36.
  • Not Abandoned to the Grave: Psalm 16:10 – “You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.” Identifier=45.
  • Ascends to Heaven: Psalm 68:18 – “When you ascended on high, you took many captives.” Identifier=105.
  • Seated at God’s Right Hand: Psalm 110:1 – “The LORD says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” Identifier=130.

Sum of all the identifiers: 36+45+105+130=316.

Hence, the total of all the sums is 265+415+565+316=1561.

Now, there are 215 sphenic numbers less than or equal to 1561. We can also get 215 if we consider the fact that 1561 is the 1314th composite number and that an approximation of the function Prime Pi evaluated at 1314 is 215.

But the astonishing result is that the Euler Totient function evaluated at 215 is precisely 168, the identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke.

BookChapterVerseSum
4211255
4211356
4211457
  168

The identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke is 168

Conclusion. The Lord’s Prayer is a precise summary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What is Jesus’ Church in Matthew 16:18-19?

Dr Jito Vanualailai

Matthew 16:18-19 states (NKJV):

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

It is clear from verse 19 that Jesus, in giving the “keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter”, approves of Peter in (1) proclaiming the gospel (opening the kingdom to believers), and (2) exercising discipline and judgment (forbidding and permitting practices and teachings).

One of the very first things that Peter taught was the definition of Jesus’ Church, describing it as a community of believers referred to as “living stones” being built into a spiritual house, with Christ as the cornerstone.

The Church as a Spiritual Building (1 Peter 2:4-8)

  • Peter writes:”As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood…” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

Peter emphasizes that Jesus is the “cornerstone” (1 Peter 2:6-8), the foundation upon which the Church is ultimately built.

6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”

8 and,
“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

The theme of The Church as a Spiritual Building in 1 Peter 2:4-8 aligns closely with Jesus’ teaching to the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:21-24. Both passages emphasize the transition from worship tied to physical locations to a spiritual and faith-centered relationship with God.

Key Parallels Between 1 Peter 2:4-8 and John 4:21-24:

  1. Jesus’ Teaching to the Samaritan Woman:
    • John 4:21-24:“Believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. … Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
    • Theme:
      • Jesus emphasizes that true worship is no longer tied to physical locations (e.g., Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem) but is based on worship “in Spirit and truth.”
      • The focus shifts to a spiritual relationship with God, accessible to all through faith.
  2. Peter’s Description of the Church as a Spiritual House:
    • 1 Peter 2:4-8:“… you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
    • Theme:
      • Believers are described as “living stones,” forming a “spiritual house” built on Christ, the cornerstone.
      • Worship becomes an offering of spiritual sacrifices, aligning with God’s will rather than physical rituals or temple-based worship.

“My Church”

From Matthew 16:18, it is clear that the expression “my church” is referring to Jesus Christ’s Church. The Greek expression for “Jesus Christ’s Church” is:

ἡ ἐκκλησία τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
(hē ekklēsia tou Iēsou Christou)

The total value of this expression is 3440, as shown in the table below:

#GreekEnglishGreek ValueCumulative
1ἡ (hē)The88
2ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia)Church294302
3τοῦ (tou)of [the]7701072
4Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)Jesus6881760
5Χριστοῦ (Christou)Christ16803440

It is astonishing that the that Carmichael Lambda function evaluated at 3440 is exactly 168, which is the identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke. Indeed, the name “Christ” itself carries the number 168, given that the equivalent Greek word, Χριστοῦ, has the value 1680=168 x 10.

The implication is astounding. Jesus Christ named His very own Church after His prayer!

Conclusion: The Church of Jesus Christ, referred to in Matthew 16:18, is the spiritual body of believers (a visible, Spirit-filled community of believers), worshiping the Father in spirit and truth, and united by faith in Jesus Christ through the Lord’s Prayer (and by, extension, the Last Supper).

The Lord’s Right Hand Is Lifted High! (Psalm 118)

Dr Jito Vanualailai

Psalm 118 is a joyful declaration of God’s steadfast love and the triumph of His righteousness. This psalm is a part of the Hallel, a series of psalms (Psalms 113–118) traditionally sung during Jewish festivals, particularly Passover. It is a communal and personal celebration of deliverance and thanksgiving to the Lord.

Verse 16 reads (NIV) : The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!

Since the Book of Psalms is the 19th book of the Bible, the identifier of the verse is (19+118+16=153).

Conclusion: When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we declare that the Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!

In the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). This petition acknowledges God’s supreme authority and power to accomplish His will. Similarly, Psalm 118:16 exalts the Lord’s “right hand,” a symbol of His sovereignty, which performs “mighty things” to fulfill His divine will.